Spring.



F. G. WINKLER.

SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1', 1907.

Patented May 1.2, 1914.

HSHEBTir-SHEBT 1.

//v l EN TOR W/ TNESSE-S'.

P. G. WINKLER.

SPRING.

APPLICATION TILED NOV. 1,1907 1,096,582, Patented Ma.y12,1914.

3 flHEBTS-BHEET 2.

W/TNESSfS.

v [NVEN TOR.

F. G. WINKLBR,

SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1. 1907'. m mm Patented M y 12, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

\i'txnmzn. u citizen of the l entire STATES PATENT OFFIUE.

FREDERICK GEORGE WIN KLER, OF BUFFALO. NEN YORK. ASSIGNOR. BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO BEREND J. BURNS AND CLIFFORD CUTLER, BOTH OF BUF- FALO,new YORK.

SPRING.

'1 (Mil 533.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 19.14.

To all trim/u it may concern lie it known that I. .FREDERHIK (lronuu .Tiited States, residing zit .llutl'ulo, county of Erie, nnd State oi NewYork, have i vented certain new and useful Improvements in Springs, o't'-.\'h.ich the. following is u tull, clear, and cxnel description.

.Titv invention relates generally to springs which only he used in mostplaces where springs are in use to-dtty.

, My chiei' object in producing the invention herein described has beento provide menus whcreh-y nuspring will carry a tare weight 0., theinitial deadwcight load) which is much greater than the subsequentlyadded load and at the same time have the following clniructeristies.

My invention provides means whereby, when the tare weight. lead iscarried by the sprin the spring will otter a resisting power againstsuchload which progr es in n, substantially arithmetical progression. When acomparatively small additional load is added the spring will continue tootter a resisting power to that, load which still increases in usubstuutially arithmetical progression... When the stud tare weight- :mdthe udded varying loud have placed the spring under elastic strum thenthe further compressive notion of the spring which may be hailed intoplay, as tor example, by violent shocks cuuscd by the passageof thevehicle equipped with my spring over any unevenness or obstacles in itsputh it will respond and utter u resisting power to such shocks whichwill increase in it substantially gcomct ricnl progression. Ivl oreo'ver1' so construct my spriu that tho linul resisting power ol it is sogrcut that in actual use it, will never be compressed to its finalpossible point of compressive uc'tion.

in my drawings and specification 1 huve shown several forms, oi myspring us pun ticulurly nihipt d in be used in motor vchielcs but itwill be readily sceuthnt some or :ill t'orms oi the spring hcrein show nand dc scribed can be used in :1 great vnriety oi \vuysundl do notcouliuc myscll' to the pz1rtieulir :ninptntion oi the spring to motorvehicles us herein shown nnd dcscribcd.

Referring now to the nccomluinying druw ings in which like chuructcrs ofreference rclir lo c :rrc pondin-g ports throughout. the scv rul ligurol ijJ'urc l ing the several unus emliled parts of one of my springs.Fig. :2 shows a similar view of the sevcrnl purts oi" the sumc spring aswhen assembled. Fig. I) shows in similar view of the sevcrul assembledparts oi. the some spring at :1 point of compression when the change ofresisting power from the arithmeticul to the geometrical nrogrcssionoccurs. Figl shows a similar view of the same spring assembled when at.the extreme limit of its movement. Fig. I. shows a similar view ol thetlllilsrt lllllhdl purts ol' unother form of my spring. Fig. (3 shows :tsimilar view 0] the non. en'ibled parts ol? still allother form 0t myspring. Fig. 7 shows it similar view of the parts shown in Fig. (3 afterbeing assembled. Fig. 8 shows still another form of the spring when theparts are unussemblcd. Fig. 0 shows it similur View of the same partsshown in Fig. 8 having the several purts purtiully assembled. Fig. '10shows still another form of my spring with the parts assembled.

Referring more particularly now to my Fi s. 1, t. :md l 1 represents aStlllllllg'lt spring member prcl erubly ot' U--shzrpe. 'lhc centrulpart. of this scmi-rigid nirn'ihcr is substuntiully rigid while the urmsl and l are cupuble ol. u slight bending when subjcctcd to at greatstruin. p is :1 elastic. loop member which is uduph-d to be, connectedto the arm 1' by means of ll link 15 or other suitable pivoted mcztn-iand it is likewise adopted to be conut ted to the arm 1 by the link 4 orother suitable pivoted connecting means. 5 is a bridge connecting mom--her shown in dotted outlines in Fi .1 and in full outlincs in l igs. 23and l. vThis bridge connecting member is adapted to be locked with :1loop ol' the clustic loop member by menus ol' :1 link it pivotnllymounted on the bridge.connecting member and the elastic loop member undit is ails-o adopted to be locked with another l p ol the elastic. loopmember by mcuns ol? it link 7 pivolully mounted on the said bridgeconnecting member und unoibcr loop of the suid elastic. loop member .2.

Hy spring huving been assembled :il'tcr thc muuucr just dcr'cribcd itmay be om nccted with thc nxlc 8 ol the vehicle as clcurly shown inFigs. 2. ii and 4. This is the prct'crublo wuy of mounting my springupon u vehicle but it will be nppurcul. (but my spring is ulso adaptedto be mounted vehicle.

The several parts shown in Fig. l are shown while in them normalposition not under strain of any kind, and they are in that conditionwhen manufactured and to be assembled. It Will be noted that in Fig. 2the semi-rigid member 1 has been drawn inwardly a small distance andfurther that the her 2 which are united to the bridge connecting member5 by the links 6 and 7 are drawn upwardly toward said bridge connestingmember 5 a small distance. "W hen the three several parts of my springare assembled as described, they are as clearly shown in, Fig. 2 underan elastic strain so that the arms 1' and 1 are slightly drawn inwardlyand the tension of those arms when connected by the links 3 and -3 ofthe elastic loop member 2 tends to draw outwardly the loops ofthcelastic loop member to the bridge connecting member 5. both the arms oithe 2 which are connected by the links 6 and 7 Thus semi-rigid member Itand the elastic loop member 2 are placed under an elastic strain whenthe parts of the spring are assembled.

Fig. 2 shows the position of my spring before it is placed under thetare weight of the load.

Fig. 8 shows my spring after it has been subjected to a load which hascarried it to such a position' that when further' load is added itsresistance will increase in a sub stantially geometrical progression.Ordinarily the position shown in Fig. 3 will be reached after the springhas been subjected to the-tare weight of a load and in addition theretothe maximum varying load which may be carried by it. The furtherpossible movement of the spring toward the posi tion shown in Fig. 4 isprovided for the purpose of absorbing shocks or other unusualdisturbances received by the Vehicle and preferably the spring is soconstructed that the bridge connecting member 5 and the semi'n'igidmember 1 will never come in contact no matter how great the load or howviolent the shock or disturbance altccting the spring action.

For the purpose of showing the character :E- the springresistance whichll. provide in my spring it may be assumed for example that the springresisting force oifcredby the spring when traveling from tho POsitiiOi)shown in 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 would he, say, one thousandwounds while the resisting power offered by the spring to travel fromthe position shown in Fig. 23 to the position shown in Fig. it wouldloops of the elastic loop nienr.

l l l l member 1.

roost-sea pounds or eight times as much. (if course the amount ofresisting power of the spring is always under regulation of themanufacturer thereof and may require.

The elastic loop member 2 bends very readily as compared with thebending qualities of the arms 1' and 1 of the semi-rigid When the partsare in the position shown in Fig. it. will be noted that the llill'lS (iand 7 a. turned inward toward the axle 8 and thereby obtain a greatleverage upon the sect ions 2 of the elastic loop member which liesbetween the said links (3- and l' and the said arms 1' and 1?. Thisleverage oi? the links 6 and 7 tends to draw inwardly-the said arms 1and 1 of the semi-r' d member l.

Whenthe spring parts ha e assumed the position shown in Fig. 3 it willbe noted that the links 6 and i' have been drawn outwardly away from theaxle 8 and their leverage is thus reduced so that the section 2" tendsto be drawn outwardly by the tension of the arms 1 and l of thescmi-rigid member 1 and these latter mentioned arms their assumealmostthe same position as that hown in Fig. l.

lVhen the spring parts have assumed the position shown in Fig. 4 it willbe noted that the links 6 and 7 have been drawn so far outwardly awayfrom the axle 8 that they again assume position practically in astraight l ine with the line of the sections 2' and when in thatposition they tend to pull the arms 1 and i like ,that shown by positionsubstantially the said arms in Fig". 2.

The leverage created. by the position of the linlrs G and 7 and thesectiohs of the elastic loop member to which theyare connected throughthe sections 2 upon the arms 1" and. 1 when in the position shown inFig. 9., is a very even. leverage and it will be noted that the arms '1and 1 are bent practically throughout their entire can be regulated asthe necessitiesinwardly into a,

length as shown by the dotted lines. The .i

leverage of the same parts when theyare in the position shown in Fig. ethowever is a much stronger leverage and it is exerted upon the arms 1angle and therefore requires a considerably greater power to Force theparts to the position shown in Fig. 4. 3

Referring now to Fig. 5 it will be noted that both the seu1i-rigi lmember 1 and the bridge connecting member 5 are substantially identicalwith the correspondingmemhers shown in Figs. 1, 9. 3 and 4 while theelastic loop member 9 shown in Fig. 5' is oF a somewhat ditfcrentconformation than the elastic loop member 2 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and4. in an elastic loop member such and l at a much sharper I ploy agreater length of material and so ar-' range the loops of the materialthat the parts when subjected to an elastic strain under load will notinterfere with each other. In this conformation a very heavy materialmay be used and at the same time the amount of space occupied by thespring need not be greater than that occupied by an elastic loop sectionof a conformation like that shown at 2. It may be noted however that theresponsive action of the spring when placed undera load will besubstantially like that of the elastic loop member 2. Of course it willbe understood that the semirigid member 1, the bridge connecting member5 and the elastic loop member 9 as shown in Fig. 5 may be united byexactly the same means employed in substantially the same way as thoseillustrated iii-Figs. 2. El and -t.

In the spring represented in Fig. (i the semirigid member 1. having thearms 1 and 1. is substantially the same as the corresponding member inthe other figures prevh onsly described but in this figure I have madeit somewhat lighter in weight than that shown in the other figures. Theelastic loop member lO'of Fig. (3 is lighter than the correspondingmembers .2. and 9 of the first live figure-sand it is proportionallylighter than the corresponding members 2 and t) of those figures inproportion to the dillerence in size between the semi-rigid member 1 ofthesevcral figures just described and the semi-rigid member l.ot' thisFig. (3. The elastic loop member 10 is much shorter than thecorresponding members 2 and 9 and is designed tor use where the springis sub jccted to a much tare-weight than the springs of the other.figures would be adapted to resist. Obviously the several parts of thespring shown in Fig. t) can be connected by identically the same meansas those shown in Figs. 2,.3 and i, and in Fig. 7 these parts are shownas so connected and assembled.

By comparing Figs. 1 and (3 it will be noted that the space between theends of the elastic loop member 2 and the arms 1' and 2 is much greaterthan the corresponding ditl'crence between the ends of the elastic. loopmember '10 and 'the' arms 1' and 1 shown in Fig. (i. liy comparing Fig.2. with Fig. 7 it will be noted that the angles of the links 6 and 7relative to the ax e 8 are much less in Fig. 2. than are the CO1-responding angles of those parts in Fig.

inasmuch as the character of the progressire resistance of my spring isdetermined by the relative position of the'linka 6 and T and the. partsconnected thereto. it will be evident that. the links 6 and 7 .used inthe construction shown in Fig. 7 will reach a position similar to thatshown by the same links in Fig. It much more quickly than the samepartswill in the eonstriu tion shown lll Fig. 8. it follows from the abovethat the the tension of the arms 11' spring resisting power of that formof my spring shown in Fig. 7 changes from a substantially arithmeticalprogression to a substantially geometrical pro ression at, a muchearlier period of travel 0 the parts of the spring than is the case withthe parts shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

From the foregoing it will be evident that I am able by the method ofarranging the pants of my spring to control in any desired way thecharacteristic resisting power of my spring through any part of itsmovement.

Referring now to Fig. 8 it will be noted that the elastic loop member 2is identical with the elastic loop member shown in Figs. 1, 2, l and tand that the bridge connecting member 5 shown in dotted outline in Fig.8 is likewise like that marked 5 shown in dotted outline in Fig: l. hesemiaigid member 11 (litters from the corresponding member 1 shown inthe other figures previously described in that it is made regulatahle asto the spread of its arms 11 and 11 This regulating means I will nowdescribe. The part 11 is made up of thearms 11 and 11' and the centralrigid member 11". The arms 11 and 11 are rigidly secured to the rigidmember 11 by bolts 14, 15, 16 and 17. the bolts passing through slotsl-l'. 15'. 16'

and 1t and being rigidly secured to the rigid .member 11. The rigidmember 11 (which would usually correspond to the rigid frame of the car)carries depending lugs lb? and ll through which set screws 12 and 17' inthe arms 11" and '13 pass: the ends of said set-serews resting againstthe ends of the arms 11 and 11'. When it is desired to alter the spreadot the arms ll. and 11., the bolts 14, l5, l6 and 17 are loosened andthe set-screws 12 and 13 are moved away from the ends of the arms 11'and 11 The said arms may then be moved either inwardly or outwardly according to the position from which they start, the limit of movementbeing governed by the length of the slots 14, 15', 16' and *7. Obviouslyany change between the ends of these arms and the ends of the elasticloop member 2 so that when the parts are assembled as shown in Fi". 9and 1.1 and the elastic loop member 2 will be regulated by the spread ofthe arms and it is for the purpose of governing this initial tension ofthe said several parts that I provide these regulating means. Anotheradvantage resulting from this construction is that I am able to regulatesuch tension of the spring even during the time when the spring isearryiiig a load.

in Fig. i) I have shownthe parts shown in Fig. 8 assembled except thatthe links 3 and l are shown "1 this figure as broken to indithe cate theabove described regnlatable ten sion. lt will be noted that the partsshown in this figure are assembled by the same conmeeting; means asthose used in Figs 2, 3 and land it will be obvious that the severalparts actwhen they are subjected to a load in substantially the samemanner as do the corresponding parts shown in Figs. 2, 3 and l.

In Fig. 10 l have shown another modification of my invention and in thatfigure, 20 represents a rigid member which is prefen ably coincidentwith the rigid frame of the car to which my snrino' is a i lied. To therigid member 20 I adjiistably secure arms 22 and Qi and connected withthese arms is a spring resisting; part The means for regulating thespread of the arms and 22 shown in my Fig, 10 are substantially the sameas the corresponding means for such re; ulation shown in Figs. 8 and. 9and I have marked the same with numbers which correspond thereto. .11will be obvious to those skilled in the art that in the suggestedconstruction shown in 10 l may employ two arms each of them having thesame conformation as the arm 22 or I may employ two arms each of themhaving the same conformation as that marked 21 and that the springsoformed will act in substantially sfme way when subjected to a load aswill the construction shown in Fig. 10 where the arms 21 and 22 are ofunlike conformation, It will be clear from the foregoing description ofmy invention that'i'n the construction shown in. Fig. 10 thespring willrespond at first through a small distance of its travel with aresistance which ,acts in a progression which is substantiallyarithmetical and through, the rest of its travel it will act with a"resistance which substantially geometrical. Obviously the spring wouldrest upon an axle applied to what is practically the central part of thespring resisting part 23. Further it will be clear that the semi-rigidpart :20 shown in Fig. 10 and the spring arms 21 and 22 may be socombined and arranged with the spring resisting member 23 that under thefare weight of a load this spring: will offer a resistance to thesamewhich increases in a progression which is substantially geometrical.

Obviously the spring loop members 2 and 9 when under the weight of aload act to resist the weight of said load with forces varying;according; to their construction and. this characteristic is likewisetrue of the spring resisting" member shown in Fig. 10. Bearing this inmind have in my claims referred in some of than to the memhers 2 and 9and member 23 as spring resisting members.

While I have shown my invention as adapted particularly for use withmotor vehicles it will be evident that it masses is likewise adapted foruse in many other Ways or to almost any form of vehicle. and I do notwish to confine myself to the particular adaptations herein shown anddescribed. l laring thus described my invention what I claim is:

l. A compound spring comprising a semi rigid member, an elastic loopmember, a bridge connecting member, means for con-- meeting said elasticloop member and. said bridge connecting; member and. additionalconnecting means between s id elastic loop 1T]QI.'ll')i. and saidsemi-rigid member where by when said spring is subjected to the tareweight of a load and the weight. of an additional variable load it willalter a resistance to the same which increases in a progression whichsubstantially arithmetical and when subjected to an additional load orstrain it will o'l'r'er a resistance thereto which will in crease in aprogression which is substan iially geometrical.

A C(llUpOUlHl spring comprising a semirigid member, an elastic loopmember, a. bridge connecting member and means for connecting saidelastic loo amber and said bridge connecting memb and additionalconnecting means betwe i said elastic loop member and said semi "idmember whereby when spring is subjected. to the tare weight of loadgitwill offer a resistance to the same which increases in a progressionwhich is so etantially arithmetical and when subjected to an additionalload. or strain it will oll'er *sistance thereto Wl 'ch (ll increase ina, progression which is sub-- sta ntially. geometrical.

3. A. compound sp comprisin a semi rig-id member, an. elastic loopmember, said. seiniaigid member having" a central portion which issubstantially rigid and being' pro vided with an arm at each end whichis capable of slight bending when subjected to a great strain, a bridgecoimcctiug member, means for adj-notably uniting: said members wherebythey may be initially placed under an elastic strain and means foruniting" said elastic loop member and said bridge connecting member sothat they are placed andcr an initial elastic strain,

4.. 1i mnnoound spring con'iprising a semirieid member, an elastic loopmember, a bridge connecting member, means for con necting' said clabridge connect 155 member, and additional connecting means hetweensaidclastie loop member and mid semi-rigid member, said semhrioid memberhaving a central portion which is substantially rigid and being provided with an arm at each end which is capable oil. slight bending whensubjected to a great strain.

1". compound spring comprising" a semi rigid member, an elastic loopmemher, i

Tilt) tral portion which is substantially rigid and being provided withan arm at eachend which is capable of slight bending when subjected to agreat strain.

6; A compound spring comprising a semirigid member, an elastic loopmember, a bridge connecting member, links connecting said elastic loopmember with said semi rigid member and links connecting said elas ticloop member with said bridge connecting member. a A

T. A compound spring comprising a semirigid member, an elastic loopmember, a bridge connecting member, means for connecting said elastic100p member and said bridge connecting member, and additional meansbetween said elastic loop member and aaid semi-rigid member, saidsemi-rigid member having a central portion which is for conlsubstantially rigid and being provided with a regnlatable arm at eachend which is capable of slight bending when subjected to a great strain.

9. A compound spring comprising a semirigid member, an elastic loopmember, a bridge connecting member, said semi-rigid inen'iber liavii'iga central portion which is substantially rigid and being provided withan arm at each end which is capable of slight bending when subjected toa great strain, means for connecting said elastic loop member and saidbridge connecting member and means for adjustably uniting the arms ofsaid semirigid member with said elastic loop member, whereby the saidparts may be initially placed under an elastic strain.

in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

F. G EORGE W IN KLE'R Witnesses:

J. ll M. Ennis, Ernnn A. KELLY.

